As the letters began to arrive, a Twitter account was set up to offer free legal advice for the recipients – which has since gained the backing of several high profile lawyers including solicitor and libel expert Mark Stephens and Mark Lewis.

One letter recipient told the newspaper: “I did it out of solidarity with a fellow Jewish woman. I haven’t slept properly since receiving the letter. It was intimidatory. I suffer from anxiety.

“This is really upsetting. It’s like parking companies sending letters out in the hope of getting money. When Lord McAlpine sued people on Twitter he only asked for £50 to be given to charity.”

A spokesman for Galloway told HuffPost UK: “There’s nothing to say. It’s a matter between the solicitors, it’s nothing to do with George.”

Galloway on Question Time last month

Bradford-based Chambers Solicitors have declined to comment on the matter.

Robert Loughlin, SRA Executive Director, told HuffPost UK: “Now that we are aware of the matter, we will be looking to obtain all necessary information before deciding on the appropriate course of action.”

The code of conduct as listed on the SRA website lists a chapter about relations with third parties.

It states: “This… is about ensuring you do not take unfair advantage of those you deal with and that you act in a manner which promotes the proper operation of the legal system.”

Specifically it impresses: “You do not take unfair advantage of third parties in either your professional or personal capacity.”

Points which may show a body has not complied with the code include:

IB (11.7) taking unfair advantage of an opposing party’s lack of legal knowledge where they have not instructed a lawyer.

IB (11.8) demanding anything for yourself or on behalf of your client that is not legally recoverable, such as when you are instructed to collect a simple debt, demanding from the debtor the cost of the letter of claim since it cannot be said that that stage that such a cost is legally recoverable.